How are you five?! You are such a fun kid! The older you get the more fun you become.

Speaking of fun, you LOVE playing games. You would seriously be happy to play board games all day long if you could. In fact, you’ve decided you want to be a board game designer when you grow up. And you really track the games and get the strategy. It’s pretty fun to watch your brain learn a new game… you’re super quick to pick things up.

You love to swim and you’re super excited for swim lessons this summer

You love your family fiercely. You light up when you get to have daddy time. You love to snuggle mommy and you often say “I love mommy” over and over. You love to play with your brothers- whether it’s wrestling with Joshua or pretend play with Charlie or Sorry with them both. You love your extended family with the same fierceness and are so excited any time you get to see any of them.

I love watching you get absorbed in a project. You are focused, detailed and careful.

You’re probably going to grow up into quite a fashion lover. You love shopping and clothes and getting new clothes always brings you great joy.

You LOVE school. You are a learning sponge. You’re super excited to start Kindergarten next year and you’re especially excited to learn how to read. Whenever you have to miss school you are always disappointed.

You do everything big. And we love you. WE LOVE YOU SAMMY! Happy Birthday, buddy :)

We have returned back to Washington and are officially recovered from jet lag! We are excited to not only be home near friends and family but to head into a new season at YWAM North Cascades. Read all about it in our latest newsletter (click on the newsletter to read it full size).

We are in the thick of the hot, humid Taiwan summer as well as the production phase of Jason’s school. Time is flying and we have about five weeks left here before we return to Washington. Here’s our summer newsletter to update y’all with everything that’s happened since our last writing in April! (Click on the newsletter to read it full-size.)

Joshua, you’re 8! This year you seem to have gotten older, taller and more grown-up faster than years past. Is that possible?

Seriously kid, you’re a heartbreaker.

I don’t know where my cute little toddler went but I when I look into the future I see you swiftly growing into a young man. And it’s freaking me out! So, slow down a little bit, okay?

You love the beach, bacon, climbing (anywhere and everywhere), building things, swimming, and adventure. You’ve decided you’re more of a big city person and you’ve been loving living in Taipei.

You’re daring and courageous, yet not reckless. You’re strategic and impressively good at games like Monopoly. You’re so sweet to your baby brother Charlie, you treat him with such gentleness and care. You love dates with dad and have enjoyed getting inducted into the world of Star Wars with him this year.

You’re basically a ninja

You process inside so I often wonder what’s going on in that big brain of yours. I always enjoy when you let me in and tell me the elaborate story you’re thinking of or whatever thought process you’re having.

You’re super creative… whether it’s in a drawing or a lego creation or a story or a game that you’ve made up for you and Sammy to play. You’re a really good teacher. You love to show your brothers how to do things and you’re very patient at explaining new concepts to them.

Eight is great!

You’re a people person. You love to meet new people and make new friends. I love watching you at the playground because you have no fear walking up to kids and asking them to play. Even when you don’t speak the same language. I wish I was as brave as you!

Happy birthday buddy. I know it’s not the same having your birthday in a foreign place but you’ve been such a trooper about it. I hope you still feel super celebrated and as special as you are. You are so very very loved.